Aircraft seating system

ABSTRACT

An aircraft seating system including a plurality of personal units, with each personal unit including a seat having a top portion and bottom portion, a central partition extending along one side of the seat from a rear surface of the seat to an area in front of the seat, a surface between the central partition and the seat, with the surface affixed to the central partition at a predetermined height, where the personal units are arranged in a first column and a second column along a central axis such that each personal unit includes a side aligned with the central axis, and the predetermined height of the surface is configured such that a passenger in a first personal unit may insert their legs and feed into the space below the surface of a second personal unit in front of the first personal unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of passenger seating systems for aircrafts have been proposed, including GB2326824 and EP1417113. These show “herringbone” arrangements of seat units. Due to the space limitations on an aircraft, there is a desire for each seat unit to take up a minimum amount of space, such that a higher number of seat units can be installed in a given floor area of an aircraft.

The seat units can be configured in a bed mode and a seat mode. The bed mode enables the passenger to lie in a recumbent position on a bed, while the seat mode enables the passenger to sit in a seated position on a seat. Some components that form the seat may also form the bed, and vice versa. There is also a desire to ensure that the bed is of a sufficient length to accommodate even a relatively tall person.

It has been appreciated by the inventors that there are disadvantages with the above arrangements and that improvements can be made.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention includes an aircraft seating system including a plurality of personal units, with each personal unit including a seat having a top portion and bottom portion, a central partition extending along one side of the seat from a rear surface of the seat to an area in front of the seat, a surface between the central partition and the seat, with the surface affixed to the central partition at a predetermined height, where the personal units are arranged in a first column and a second column along a central axis such that each personal unit includes a side aligned with the central axis, and the predetermined height of the surface is configured such that a passenger in a first personal unit may insert their legs and feed into the space below the surface of a second personal unit in front of the first personal unit.

In another embodiment, the central partition includes a first extension portion having one side substantially perpendicular to a side of the seat, a second extension portion extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the first extension portion on a side of the first partition furthest from the seat, and a third extension portion extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the second extension portion furthest from the first extension portion such that a surface of the third extension portion faces a front surface of the seat.

In another embodiment, the first extension portion connects to the second connection portion via a curved surface.

In another embodiment, the second extension portion connects to the third connection portion via a curved surface.

In another embodiment, the first partition, second partition and third partition extends from the floor of the aircraft to a height at least equal to the height of the top portion of the seat.

In another embodiment, the heights of the first partition, second partition and third partition are substantially equal.

In another embodiment, the surface is positioned such that the top portion of the surface is at least substantially coplanar with an arm of the seat.

In another embodiment, the surface is positioned above an arm of the seat.

In another embodiment, the surface is positioned below an arm of the seat.

In another embodiment, the second partition in each personal unit is aligned such that they form a central axis with the central axis being substantially parallel with a first column axis of the first column of personal units and second column axis of a second column of personal units.

In another embodiment, the seat of each personal unit is aligned with the space created by the surface of another personal unit along a longitudinal axis.

In another embodiment, the longitudinal axis is angled from the central axis by a predetermined angle.

In another embodiment, the central partition has a substantially wave shaped form.

In another embodiment, the aircraft system includes a second surface positioned in front of the seat.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes an aircraft system including a plurality of personal units, with each personal unit including a seat configured to extend the length of the personal unit along a longitudinal axis of the personal unit, a first partition, a second partition, a third partition, and a fourth partition, where the partitions form a surface area portion and a seat portion, and the second partition acts as a common partition such that the second partition forms a portion of at least two personal units.

In another embodiment, the personal units are arranged along a central axis with a first row of personal units being angled along a longitudinal axis at a first angle from the central axis and a second row of partitions being angled along a longitudinal axis at a second angle such that the seat portion of one personal unit in the first or second column is adjacent to the surface area portion in an adjacent personal unit.

In another embodiment, the first partition, second partition, third partition and fourth partition extend from the floor of the aircraft to a height at least equal to the height of the top portion of the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an arrangement of personal units;

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a plurality of seating units aligned along a central axis;

FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of personal units;

FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of personal units;

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the personal units of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the personal units of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of the personal unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 depicts a rear view of the personal unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the personal units of FIG. 4 with a person seated in a seat of the personal unit;

FIG. 10 depicts a top view of the personal units of FIG. 4 with a reclined person in the seat of the personal unit;

FIG. 11 depicts a top view of the personal unit depicting the floor space exposed in each personal unit; and

FIG. 12 depicts a top view of the personal units installed in an aircraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A plurality of personal units is provided. Each personal unit defines a personal space useable by a single passenger. The personal units are arranged on a substantially flat floor 1 of the aircraft. A first set of the personal units are arranged in a first column and a second set are arranged in a second column. The two columns define first and second column axes. The two columns are substantially parallel. Each personal unit defines a longitudinal axis between a forward end and a rearward end of the personal unit. The longitudinal axis is parallel to the floor. The forward end is closer to the front of the aircraft. The longitudinal axis of each personal unit is at an acute angle with respect to the respective column axis. Each seat unit in the same column forms substantially the same acute angle. Each personal unit is configurable in a seat mode and a bed mode. In the seat mode, a seat is situated in the personal unit, and in the bed mode, a bed is situated in the personal unit. The transition between modes is similar to that of GB2326824, which is incorporated by reference herein, in which a seat back reclines and a seat pan moves forwards to form part of the bed.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an arrangement of personal units 100. Each personal unit 100 includes a seat 102 having a top portion 104 and bottom portion 106, a central partition 108 extending a long one side of the seat 102 from a rear surface of the seat 102 to an area in front of the seat 102. The central partition 108 includes a first extension portion 110 having one side substantially perpendicular to a side of the seat 102, a second extension portion 112 extending perpendicularly from an edge of the first extension portion 110 on a side of the first partition 110 furthest from the seat 102, and a third extension portion 112 extending perpendicularly from an edge of the second extension portion 102 furthest from the first extension portion 110 such that a surface of the third extension portion 114 faces a front surface of the seat 102. In one embodiment, the first partition 110 is connected to the second partition 112 at a substantially 90 degree angle. In another embodiment, the first partition 110 connects to the second partition 112 by a curved surface defined radius (r). Each of the first partition 110, second partition 112 and third partition 114 extends from the floor of the aircraft to a height at least equal to the height of the top portion 104 of the seat 102. In one embodiment, the height of the first partition 110, second partition 112 and third partition 114 are substantially equal. In another embodiment, the height of the first partition 110, second partition 112 and third partition are not equal. In another embodiment, the height of the first partition 110 and second partition 112 are substantially equal but different than the third partition 114. In another embodiment, the height of the first partition 110 and third partition 114 are substantially equal but different than the second partition 112.

A surface 116 is positioned between the first partition 110, second partition 112, third partition and the seat 102 such that the edges of the surface 116 are substantially in contact with a lower edge, the edge closest to the floor of the aircraft, of the first partition 110, second partition 112 and third partition 114. The surface 116 is positioned such that the top portion of the surface 116 is at least substantially coplanar with an arm 118 of the seat 102. In another embodiment, the surface 106 is positioned above the arm 118 of the seat 102. In yet another embodiment, the surface 106 is positioned below the arm 118 of the seat 102. The first partition 110, second partition 112, third partition 114 and bottom of the surface 116, i.e. the surface facing the aircraft floor, form an open space that is sized to accommodate the lower portion of the human body.

The second partition 112 in each panel are aligned such that they form a central axis 120 with the central axis 120 being substantially parallel with the first column 10 axis and second column 12 axis. The central axis of each seat 102 is angled from the central axis 120 at a predefined angle such that the central axis of a bottom portion 106 of each seat 102 substantially aligns with the open space created by the first, second and third partitions 110, 112 and 114 and the bottom portion of the surface 116 of the seating portion 100 in front of each seating portion. An enclosure 122 having side walls 124 defining the open space is positioned in front of seating units 100 having no seating unit 100 in front.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a plurality of seating units 100 aligned along a central axis 120. The central axis of each seat 102 is substantially aligned with the central axis of the open space formed by the first, second and third 110, 112 and 114 portions and the surface 116 to form a longitudinal axis 124. The central axis of each seat 102 is angled from the central axis 14 of the first column 10 or second column 12 by an angle θ. In one embodiment, each seat 102 is angled from the first column central axis 14 and second column central axis 14 axis at the substantially the same angle. In another embodiment, each seat 102 is angled from the first ach seat 102 is angled from the first column central axis 14 and second column central axis 14 axis at the different angles

FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of personal units 300. Each personal unit 300 includes a seat 302. Each seat 302 is configured to extend the length of the personal unit 200 along a longitudinal axis 304 of each personal unit 300. Each personal unit 100 includes a first partition 308, second partition 310, third partition 312 and fourth partition 314 with the partitions forming a surface area portion and a seat portion. The second partition 310 in each personal unit 100 acts as a common partition such that the second partition 110 forms a portion of at least two personal units 100. The personal units 100 are arranged along a central axis 316 with a first row of personal units being angled along a longitudinal axis 304 at a first angle from the central axis and a second row of partitions being angled along a longitudinal axis 304 at a second angle such that the seat portion of one personal unit 300 in the first or second column is adjacent to the surface area portion in an adjacent personal unit 100.

FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of a personal unit 400. Each personal unit 400 includes a seat 402 having a partition 404 extending along the side and back surfaces of the seat 402. In one embodiment, the partition 404 is configured such that the peripheral vision of a person seated in the seat is obscured. Each partition 400 is arranged along a central partition 406. In one embodiment, the central partition 406 is substantially wave shaped. A first surface unit 408 is position between the central partition 406 and the seat 402 and a second surface unit 410 extends from an end of the first surface unit 408 furthest from the seat 402 such that an edge of the second surface unit 410 is parallel with the front surface of the seat 402.

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the personal units of FIG. 4. The personal units 400 are in a first column 502 along a first column axis 504 and a second column 506 along a second column axis 508 on either side of a central axis 510 extending down the length of the central partition 406. The longitudinal axis 512 of each seat is angled from the first column axis or second column axis by an angle β. In one embodiment, the angle β is substantially equal for each personal unit 400. In another embodiment, the angle β is different for each personal unit 400

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the personal units 400 of FIG. 4. Each personal unit 400 is separated into three layers with each layer being substantially parallel to the floor. The layers are stacked one on top of another, with the floor at the bottom. The lowest layer is the floor space layer 600, then the foot space layer is next upwards (i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the floor), then the side space layer is at the top. The boundary between the first column and the second column is differently structured in at least two of the respective layers. This results in a situation in which a personal space in one layer of one personal unit is partially stacked with respect to a personal space in another layer of one personal unit in the other column. Thus portions of each personal space cross a notional central plane normal to the floor and between the column axes, resulting in a stacked arrangement of portions of personal space in the region of the notional central plane, as described above.

The boundary between the first and second columns in a respective layer is formed at least partially by a partition between the columns. Different partitions in at least two different layers are structured differently. Each partition may be, for example, substantially straight (e.g. running parallel to the column axes), or may be, for example, corrugated. The corrugation may be curved, like a sine wave when viewed from above, or may be zig-zagged, like a triangular wave when viewed from above.

The foot space layer 602 includes a foot space, in which the person inserts his feet when in the recumbent position. The foot space is at the forward end of the personal unit. By stacking the foot space with portions of personal space of adjacent personal units, in particular crossing the notional central place, a wider, longer foot space may be achieved.

The side space layer 604 includes a side space, which the person can use and access (at least) when in the seated position. The side space is located to one side of the person when in this position.

The floor space layer 600 includes a floor space. The floor space comprises a space in which the person will put his feet when in the seated position. In some embodiments, the floor space also comprises a space at least partially underneath the foot space, which may be used for storage. In some embodiments, the floor space comprises a space at least partially underneath the side space, which may be used for storage. The gap between these spaces may include part of the foot space of an adjacent personal unit in the same column and/or the foot space of a personal unit in the other respective column.

In the foot space layer 600 and the floor space layer 602, the central partition between the two columns is zigzagged. The zigzagging parts cross either side of the central partition in the side space layer. The foot space and the floor space of each personal unit therefore extends underneath the central partition in the side space layer. The floor space and the foot space of a respective personal unit extend in the forward direction until it reaches a partition defining a side of a respective personal unit in the other column. Each straight part of the zigzag therefore defines a forward end of the foot space and the floor space, respectively. The personal units are therefore arranged in these layers in an “interlocking herringbone” formation. The zigzag formed between the two columns has internal angles that are obtuse (e.g. 100°-170° or 120°-150°, which results in the forward end of the foot space and the floor space not being perpendicular to the sides of the personal unit. One side of the personal unit is therefore longer than the other, which results in a longer maximum length of the personal unit. In the foot space layer 600, this creates a longer maximum length of the part of the personal space that is occupied by the person when in the recumbent position. (In other embodiments, the zigzag is formed of right-angles.)

In another embodiment, the side space layer, the central partition between the two columns is corrugated, such that the side space side partition extends substantially more parallel to the longitudinal axis of the personal unit than in the first embodiment. The shelf is therefore of a substantially uniform width, rather than being substantially triangular. The foot space layer and the floor space layer are structured similarly to the first embodiment, but with a more corrugated central partition.

Each personal unit has the foot space, the floor space and the side space. All of these spaces form part of the personal space for that personal unit.

As will be apparent, the personal units 400 are arranged in an array of individual personal units 400, specifically including two columns of units in the described embodiments. The array is formed by a corresponding array of unit cells or personal space defining units in some embodiments.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of the personal unit 400 of FIG. 4. The personal unit 400 includes the seat 402, the partition 404, the central partition 406, the first surface 408 and the second surface 410.

FIG. 8 depicts a rear view of the personal unit 400 of FIG. 4. The central partition 406 curves away from the partition 404 of the personal unit 400 to form a footrest portion 800 for an adjacent personal unit 402. A footrest partition 802 extends from the central partition 406 to form the enclosed footrest portion 802. The footrest portion includes a footrest surface 804 connected to the footrest partition 802. The edge of the footrest surface 804 is curved downward towards the aircraft floor 1. The footrest surface 804 is positioned at above the aircraft floor such that a space is formed between the aircraft floor 1 and the footrest surface 804. In one embodiment, the height of the footrest surface 804 above the floor is adjustable. In another embodiment, the height of the footrest surface 804 above the floor is fixed.

The footrest partition 806 includes a front partition 812 formed by the footrest partition 806, a side partition 814 formed by the portion of the partition 404 adjacent to the footrest partition 806, an upper footrest partition 816 formed by the portion of the central partition 406. The width of the central partition 406 may be increased to form the upper footrest partition 816.

FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the personal units 400 of FIG. 4 with a person 900 seated in a seat of the personal unit 400. FIG. 10 depicts a top view of the personal units 400 of FIG. 4 with a reclined person 1000 in the seat 402 of the personal unit 400. FIG. 11 depicts a top view of the personal unit 400 depicting the floor space 1100 exposed in each personal unit 400. FIG. 12 depicts a top view of the personal units 400 installed in an aircraft.

The floor space of each personal unit is, in some embodiments, partially defined by a unit cell, in particular where the unit cell provides storage space underneath the foot well, with the remainder being defined by the cabin floor. In other embodiments, the floor space may be defined entirely by a unit cell, or a combination of unit cells. In yet other embodiments, the floor space is defined entirely by the cabin floor.

The personal units are attached to tracks that run under or along the floor, parallel to the respective column axis. The footrest defining a lower boundary of a foot space has an extendable part extendable towards the backward end of the personal unit, which may assist in forming the bed. The extension may take the form of a flip-up extension or a drawer that slides from under the footrest. A seat pan extension may also be analogously formed to extend forward from the seat pan.

The seats may convert into beds according to EP1417113, which is incorporated by reference herein, in which a backrest of the seat is folded forward, with the opposite side of the backrest used to form part of the bed.

The angle between the longitudinal axis and the respective column axis is about approximately 30 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle is between approximately 20 to approximately 55 degrees.

The personal units in the first column are offset from the respective personal units in the second column, in a direction parallel to the column axes, by an amount which is between approximately 0 and approximately 1 times the distance between adjacent personal units in the same direction, for example about approximately 0.5 times or between approximately 0.2 to approximately 0.8 times.

The preceding detailed description is merely some examples and embodiments of the present disclosure and that numerous changes to the disclose embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from its spirit or scope. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the disclosure but to provide sufficient disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention with undue burden. 

1. An aircraft seating system including: a plurality of personal units, with each personal unit including a seat having a top portion and bottom portion, a central partition extending along one side of the seat from a rear surface of the seat to an area in front of the seat, a surface between the central partition and the seat, with the surface affixed to the central partition at a predetermined height, wherein the personal units are arranged in a first column and a second column along a central axis such that each personal unit includes a side aligned with the central axis, and the predetermined height of the surface is configured such that a passenger in a first personal unit may insert their legs and feed into the space below the surface of a second personal unit in front of the first personal unit.
 2. The aircraft seating system of claim 1 wherein the central partition includes a first extension portion having one side substantially perpendicular to a side of the seat; a second extension portion extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the first extension portion on a side of the first partition furthest from the seat; and a third extension portion extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the second extension portion furthest from the first extension portion such that a surface of the third extension portion faces a front surface of the seat.
 3. The aircraft system of claim 2 wherein the first extension portion connects to the second connection portion via a curved surface.
 4. The aircraft system of claim 2 wherein the second extension portion connects to the third connection portion via a curved surface.
 5. The aircraft system of claim 1 wherein the first partition, second partition and third partition extends from the floor of the aircraft to a height at least equal to the height of the top portion of the seat.
 6. The aircraft system of claim 5 where the heights of the first partition, second partition and third partition are substantially equal.
 7. The aircraft system of claim 1, wherein the surface is positioned such that the top portion of the surface is at least substantially coplanar with an arm of the seat.
 8. The aircraft system of claim 1, wherein the surface is positioned above an arm of the seat.
 9. The aircraft system of claim 1, wherein the surface is positioned below an arm of the seat.
 10. The aircraft system of claim 2, wherein the second partition in each personal unit is aligned such that they form a central axis with the central axis being substantially parallel with a first column axis of the first column of personal units and second column axis of a second column of personal units.
 11. The aircraft system of claim 1 wherein the seat of each personal unit is aligned with the space created by the surface of another personal unit along a longitudinal axis.
 12. The aircraft system of claim 11 wherein the longitudinal axis is angled from the central axis by a predetermined angle.
 13. The aircraft system of claim 1 wherein the central partition has a substantially wave shaped form.
 14. The aircraft system of claim 1 including a second surface positioned in front of the seat.
 15. An aircraft system including: a plurality of personal units, with each personal unit including a seat configured to extend the length of the personal unit along a longitudinal axis of the personal unit, a first partition, a second partition, a third partition, and a fourth partition, wherein the partitions form a surface area portion and a seat portion, the second partition acts as a common partition such that the second partition forms a portion of at least two personal units.
 16. The aircraft system of claim 15, wherein the personal units are arranged along a central axis with a first row of personal units being angled along a longitudinal axis at a first angle from the central axis and a second row of partitions being angled along a longitudinal axis at a second angle such that the seat portion of one personal unit in the first or second column is adjacent to the surface area portion in an adjacent personal unit.
 17. The aircraft system of claim 15 wherein the first partition, second partition, third partition and fourth partition extend from the floor of the aircraft to a height at least equal to the height of the top portion of the seat.
 18. A plurality of personal passenger units for installation on aircraft, each personal unit being arranged to define a longitudinal axis, the personal units being arranged, when installed, to form first and second columns along a floor to define respective first and second column axes, the personal units in each column being arranged side-by-side in a longitudinally offset relationship at an acute angle to the respective column axis, each personal unit being arranged to define a personal space for accommodating a person in a seated position and accommodating the person in a recumbent position, wherein at least some of the personal units are arranged such that a stacked part of the personal space of the respective personal unit is arranged in a stacked relationship, in a direction perpendicular to the floor, with respect to a stacked part of the personal space of a personal unit in the respective other column.
 19. The plurality of personal units of claim 18, wherein the stacked part of the personal space of the respective personal unit and the stacked part of the personal space of the personal unit in the respective other column are spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the floor.
 20. The plurality of personal units claim 18, wherein the at least some of the personal units are arranged such that a stacked part of the personal space of the respective personal unit is arranged in a stacked relationship, in a direction perpendicular to the floor, with respect to a stacked part of the personal space of a personal unit in the respective same column. 